He was born in Ballyameen, near Dingle, Co. Kerry and educated in Trinity College, Dublin. He was ordained a priest in the
Church of Ireland in 1853 and appointed to Creagh Parish. He married Charlotte King and their three children were born at
Creagh. In 1858 he was appointed curate of Killaconagh in the Beara Peninsula. He lived in Ardgroom and compiled his great
collection of Irish music there. He was instituted as rector of Abbeystrewry in 1867 and was appointed professor of Irish in
T.C.D. He died in January in 1896 and was buried in Creagh cemetery.